852.2221/806: Telegram
The Counselor of Embassy in Spain (Thurston) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 17—10:45 a.m.]
942. Your 436, April 1, 6 p.m. Dr. Barsky, leader of the American medical units operating in Spain under the auspices of the Medical Bureau and North American Committee to Aid Spanish Democracy, today informed me that there are in his organization approximately 100 doctors, nurses, and relief workers all of whom I presume entered Spain with valid passports. Of these at least seven are now in southern Spain. In addition there are perhaps ten other relief workers such as the Quakers some of whom also are in southern Spain.
The Military Attaché has estimated that as of November 1 there were about 2000 American volunteers serving with the Spanish Government [Page 283] forces of whom 900 were in active combat service, 300 were in hospitals or rest areas, 300 in training centers, and 500 in noncombatant activities with motor and hospital units. Military operations since then probably have reduced the number with combat troops to about 450 and increased the number of those in hospitals. It would seem safe to estimate the present total at 16 or 1700.
It is reported but not confirmed that all international brigade forces were established within the Catalonia area before communication with the south was cut. If this is true most able bodied American volunteers probably could proceed to France overland when necessary. The Oregon is again in Barcelona but I have not been consulted by Hemingway or others interested in the matter with respect to the evacuation of wounded Americans.